Page 13 - LOTN Advent issue 57

DIOCESE

Hiking up to the top of a zip-line And zipping down!

The video above was made by Lisa Findlay to thank the Community, and to encourage others to go on future pilgrimages

So what had the youth to say about the 2024 summer pilgrimage ...

“Before the pilgrimage I didn’t really go to Mass. Now, at the end of the pilgrimage I realised that I truly want to be a
good Christian, and go to confession and Holy Communion….I’ve asked God to help me… and I will carry on to pray. I
want to achieve the goals I set myself on pilgrimage; to pray the rosary at least once a day and to go to Mass every Sunday.
I’m happy that I've been on this pilgrimage and that I have had a chance to be with God. There were some sad days you
could say, but it was not that bad because then the other girls came, and they made me feel nice and calm, but most
days were really good. I thank Jesus for this pilgrimage. Last year I said I wanted to go to Germany and I've been there in
reality! I’m grateful that this year we didn’t have to eat bread and ham all the time and that we didn’t have to sleep on the
floor sometimes and that there was not too much travelling. Still, I did like last year’s pilgrimage… I had time to spend
with Jesus and all the pilgrims, I loved it and I don’t want to go home, I wanted to be there forever and ever. I pray for my
prayer partner.”

“The thing I have thoroughly enjoyed during this pilgrimage is how it has brought me back to Christ. Before coming
on this pilgrimage, I was falling in and out of deep sadness and anger. Falling in and out of sin, feeling like it would be an
unending cycle. I felt myself unconsciously falling out of my faith. It felt the more I wanted the grace of God the farther
I felt from Him. I didn’t feel His presence within me. I felt so distant from this Catholic faith that I was scared I would fall
completely away. I told myself if I came on this pilgrimage and felt the same that I would give up on God because it was
almost pointless. However, being on this pilgrimage has set a new order and balance in my heart. The continuous prayers,
the beautiful worship hymns, the amazing almost unbelievable sermons it, all reminded me of how much I love this faith.
I’m so thankful for this pilgrimage. I would go as far as to say it saved my life.”

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